Final answer:
Increasing vascular resistance while maintaining cardiac output would lead to an elevated mean arterial pressure, potentially leading to hypertension.
Step-by-step explanation:
If cardiac output (CO) remains unchanged and resistance (R) in the vasculature increases, this would result in an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP). MAP is determined by both cardiac output and total peripheral resistance according to the formula MAP = CO × R. Therefore, if R increases and CO stays the same, the product of these two factors will increase, leading to a higher MAP. This has implications for the cardiovascular system, as a sustained increase in MAP can lead to conditions such as hypertension and can increase the workload of the heart.
If the mean arterial pressure (MAP) is unchanged but the resistance (R) increases, the MAP will decrease. MAP is determined by the equation MAP = CO * R, where CO is the cardiac output and R is the total peripheral resistance. If CO remains constant and R increases, the product of these two values will be smaller, resulting in a decrease in MAP.
For example, let's say the initial values are MAP = 100 mmHg, CO = 5 L/min, and R = 20 mmHg/L/min. If CO remains 5 L/min and R increases to 25 mmHg/L/min, the new MAP will be 5 * 25 = 125 mmHg. Therefore, an increase in resistance while maintaining a constant cardiac output will result in an increase in mean arterial pressure.